OK, so Wag’n Tales has added a new wagging tail…and we need suggestions for a name!
She’s a sweetheart of a pup…a female black lab. She doesn’t jump up, loves the boys and (I’m hoping) will become George’s shadow.
Here’s a few shots of her first moments…and don’t forget, we need a name!
It was love at first lick!
She's absolutely the calmest puppy I have ever seen!
Fast friends!
Well, Boss Man hasn’t been very happy lately. We have received enough rain to delay planting yet again. Every shower we get, the chance of being able to get into the fields prior to deadline is getting smaller and smaller, which means changing the game plan.
These were a few of the shots that I took while he was able to plant with his “new” corn planter. We spent many, many hours working on this (yep, even me!) and we just wish we could use it a bit more! 🙂
Enjoy your beautiful weekend!
It takes equipment of ALL sizes to farm!
Corn is being planted...finally.
Thanks to GPS, the marker arms aren't needed. The tractor uses satellite signal to drive a straight line.
1) Be patient – When he tells you to pick him up at the Lone Tree Quarter and you go to the quarter of land that has the only tree on it and he tells you that he meant the quarter of land that had one tree on it when his grandfather was farming…well, that’s just how farmers think.
2) Be flexible – When he says that he’ll be in the house in 20 minutes for supper and you get everything ready and then two hours later he walks in the door saying that some salesman had stopped and that he didn’t buy anything, but time just got away from him…well, maybe he should be the flexible one. That way he can duck when you throw the plate at him.
3) Be willing to laugh – When he comes in the house, mad that he can’t find the nuts/bolts/tools/whatever he had taken apart and had set “right there” in the shop and he needs an extra set of eyes and then when you go to help you realize that your 3-year-old had “helped” Dad by putting all the parts in the handle of the floor jack…well, that’s just plain funny. Even if he doesn’t think so. At least not right away.
4) Be willing to change your view of norm – Walking into church 10 minutes early, enjoying the prelude music and visiting with a few people is no longer a normal part of life. Walking into church 10 minutes late, realizing your 4-year-old is still wearing his “rubby” boots and wondering if anyone else notices the smell of cow in the air, is.
5) Remember that he relates to new situations by connecting them to ones he knows – For instance, when you’re having a child and the doctor says he may need to assist in the delivery and he says something like, “But where do you hook the chains?” Well, he’s just trying to relate. Or if your children are born weighing in at 9 pounds 6 ounces, 10 pounds 9 ounces, 9 pounds 2 ounces and 9 pounds 13 ounces, and he calls the Select Sires rep to try to figure out what his Calving Ease score would be, but isn’t feeling too bad because he’s not breeding heifers any more anyway…well, he’s just trying to relate.
6) Throw out the calendar – Yes, it may be your anniversary, your birthday, Thanksgiving, what have you may…but since the weather is perfect for ______ (fill in blank) you may need to celebrate tomorrow or next week…or maybe three shindigs in one. Happy Anni-birth-giving!
7) Keep your temper – When he calls at noon, as you’re feeding four children, giving one a bath after eating, preparing a Sunday school lesson, trying to get some laundry done, washing dishes, breaking up a food fight and trying to find the wild cat that someone let in the house and he asks you if you’re “doing anything” – well, just count to ten…slowly…then backwards. Breathe. It’s OK.
8) Remember that cows and children are different…sometimes – When he comes in the house covered in manure from head to toe, yet the smell of baby poop makes him gag…well, isn’t that just sweet?
9) Be willing to love – Love whatever life throws at you…and with a farmer it will be a lot. Take each new challenge and turn it into something fun and memorable. You can’t change the weather, the conditions, the fields, so you may as well look at it with a light heart.
10) Thank God for each day – I know I do. It’s not always easy, and it’s not always light-
My farmer – AKA Boss Man.
hearted, but even the tough times can be good learning experiences. I’m sure Boss Man has tons of quirky things that I do that drive him nuts, but we’ve made it 10 years now…and that’s gotta count for something.
Here’s to the next 10 – hope my guardian angel can keep up!
I needed to have a photo of myself yesterday for my new column that will run in the Aberdeen American News. The problem was that I had no one to take the picture…or at least, no one older than 4! Here was his handy work (don’t worry, I finally got one!):
Just about worked, if only centered a little better!
Not quite.
Something seems to be missing...
Well, I do like reading, but...
The window did give good lighting, but I'm not there...
Oh, almost!!!
I'm not sitting in the chair, either...
No, but at least your socks are clean...
Really close view of sock. Maybe I should just call Dad?
No, we’re not losing our farm…and I hope we never have to face that kind of hardship, but unfortunately I know too many that have.
As I read headlines and articles regarding the devastating flooding in the south, I can’t help but think of those to the north of us. Although Louisiana, Missouri and other southern states are undergoing some drastic water issues right now, those in the Devils Lake area have been fighting these same types of issues for years. The only difference has been timing.
I wonder which would be easier…watching your hard work disappear in the blink of an eye, knowing that there is nothing you can do about it, or watching slowly, year after year, as the water creeps steadily closer? Knowing that there are answers and resources available to stop (or at least slow down) the advancement of the water, but not be able to access those resources? Knowing that local, state and federal government is well aware of what’s happening, people come and tour your devastation, and yet nothing is done.
How would that feel?
Would it be better to lose your farmland in a flash of water? A wave that washes over your land, wiping it clean like a slate, but then having the opportunity to reclaim and rebuild what you once had? Or watch as the water claims the land that you once farmed, lived on, called home…knowing that you may never be able to return to it again?
Unfortunately, both are realities. And not only are the landowners and the farmers the losers in this battle. Each and every one of us has a stake and are hurt when farmland is lost.
As the world’s population continues to grow, those involved in farming and acres available to farm are on a decline. Losing thousands of acres to flooding isn’t going to help matters any.
Hopefully the water will recede quickly in the south, and we’ll be able to reclaim some of that fertile ground. But the answer for those in the Devils Lake area seems to be further off…and the longer it takes, the more we’ll ALL be hurting.
It may not seem like much now, but it’s a pain we should ALL be sharing in…and ALL be trying to find a solution.
It’s raining…again. And although we have a few acres planted, my husband isn’t in the best of moods. He would like to have had more in the ground, but guess what? That’s the nature of the business. So while we’re down, this is what I’ll be doing:
https://secure.apps.state.nd.us/gnf/onlineservices/lic/public/online/lot/lotterypurchase.htm
That’s the link to applying for your deer license, if you’re going to hunt in North Dakota. And I would like everyone to click on it and apply.
Game and Fish has REDUCED the number of licenses this year by almost 7,000 across the state. That’s right, I said reduced. As in subtracted. As in they believe the numbers are getting too low. As in give-me-a-break.
In my perfect world scenario, every single license would be purchased, and every single one would be filled. (They usually expect about half of them to be filled.) If Game and Fish are technically going to “contract” out this many deer, than let’s take them out. And remember, even if you don’t care much for venison, you can always DONATE the meat! (Or donate money so that meat can be donated!)
Game and Fish claim that the last three winters were rough, causing great losses. I agree that the winters were rough, but the management of resources and habitat was severely lacking. And their solutions to the problem were to basically do nothing for the animal, just try to avert the problem from the land owner. Apparently doing nothing is easiery than even attempting anything else suggested.
And this is what you end up with:
The deer died in and on our feed supply for our cattle.
George loves his "lawn mower."
This is one of EJ's favorites!
It's time for the cows to head to pasture!
EJ knows that anytime you deal with cows, you need to have your "rubby" boots on.
Junior may be our "foster" dog, but he's the best!
And he's terribly patient as well.
Big Bro is working hard on his homework!
Figuring, figuring, figuring...
Good thing he has all 10!
Excuse me, but do you have a license for this thing?
Notice the red tab in the window? Dad made sure they were driving legally! Ha!
Well, it’s official. I’m starting a new adventure in my life. I am officially a columnist for a regional daily newspaper.
Yeah, that’s right, someone is actually going to publish what I write. Hah! 🙂
Actually, I used to work at the Aberdeen American News prior to married life. I typed up wedding announcements and birth announcements and all sorts of community events. I proofread the paper and worked on special assignments. I met some amazing people and I LOVED my job.
But driving an hour one way, starting a new life (and family) with my new husband and having an opportunity closer to home all convinced me that I needed to travel down another path. Fast forward 10 years, and here we are!
My columns will run every other week, starting May 25…and I’m nervous! Aack! But I’m also excited. I have a chance to share my story, share my farm, and share my family with others on a scale that not many are given. How amazing is that?!?
With these guys around, I probably won't run out of stuff to write about!
And to top it off…some of the same great people are still working at the paper. So it’s a little like coming home. In fact, the same amazing woman who was my boss so many years ago will now be my editor. Cool, eh?
Well, I better get to writing down all these ideas floating in my head. I can’t wait!!!
P.S. If you have any ideas, suggestions, etc. you’d like to share, shoot ’em at me!!
I’ve always liked Mike Rowe. And earlier this year, (thanks to our time served on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committee) I was able to see him up close and personal. It was an amazing time, an amazing speech and he is an amazing man. I feel even more so now.
Mr. Rowe testified in front of the Senate Commerce Committee recently, regarding what he considers a “Skills Gap.” In essence, we push, prod and reward those that strive for excellence in careers such as doctors, lawyers, etc., but consider skilled labor as something fit for those that couldn’t make it in college, or at least not far enough to get a doctorate. It’s an amazing read, go ahead, it’s linked up above. Read it. Now.
He’s right.
And I’m guilty of it, too.
When I think of my boys’ futures, I think about doctors and lawyers and all things that moms dream of…but I’m forgetting about what they’re dreaming of. Why? Every day we rely on those people that are behind the scenes, but how many people look at their child and say, “Someday, I hope you’ll be a mechanic.” Why?
EJ is working on his truck, while Dad is washing the combine.
We use electricity, but forget about the linemen. We get into our vehicles everyday, knowing that if something goes wrong a mechanic is a phone call away. We eat, but the dirt is under someone else’s fingernails. All these things we take for granted everyday. And Mr. Rowe is right…it needs to change.
Technology is changing the world, but our reliance on skilled labor is as great as it has ever been. We need tradesmen as much as we need doctors. And we need to encourage those that have a passion for those careers.
The next time my son picks up a wrench and asks what it’s for, my answer will be different. That tool is just as important as a scalpel. Who am I to try to determine what the tools for his future are? I can provide for him all the options available, but the choice is his to make.
So whether he decides to go into a cutting-edge profession such as social-media marketing, or a centuries-old one such as farming, I know one thing for certain…I’ll be there to hand him the tools he needs.
Just like most of the state, our area has been too wet to plant. And although this week has seen more and more fields getting going, our planter is still parked in the shop, getting ready to go. So this is the planting that I did this weekend:
Part of our new garden project will include Spaghetti Squash for George to eat through the winter.
Our garden is taking on a new role this year. You see, with George not being able to consume much for protein, that really, really, really limits his diet. So I decided that instead of spending a ton of money on frozen and canned fruits and veggies, that I would try to supplement his diet with our own home-grown veggies.
Spaghetti squash will replace his noodles, I’ve started some sugar snap peas, some watermelon and I will get a few packs of other veggies and fun stuff at the greenhouse this week. I can’t wait!
I started these seeds inside a few weeks ago, but they’re outgrowing my containers and the garden isn’t ready yet for them to go outside. So I transplanted them this weekend.
I'm new to all this, so these are my chosen tools for the year.
I, of course, needed some extra soil.
The bottom is what I started with, and the finished product transplanted at top!
I even planted a few flowers in a hanging basket. I know, it's scary for me too!
Wag'n Tales 